The 2023 NFL draft saw its first wide receiver going off the boards as a No 20 overall pick by the Seahawks. This season’s draft class is stacked with quarterbacks and defensive prospects. However, some handpicked wide receivers were viewed as favorites to secure a spot in the first round. As expected, the Buckeyes star Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the first wideout to find his new home in the NFL arena.
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The 21-year-old was indeed a top prospect in the wide receiver corps, and this notion was justified after the Seahawks made their move. Head coach Pete Carroll had no apprehensions in selecting this youngster because all he wanted was to strengthen his offensive depth chart. And it appears betting on Njigba was a smart decision.
Jaxon-Smith Njigba looks ready for the big stage
The pass catcher will join a loaded offensive unit in Seattle with Geno Smith and Drew calling plays from the center. He already has veteran talent DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to seek lessons from and make a smooth transition into the NFL world. He is expected to line up as a third-stringer and bolster the squad.
Njigba missed a reasonable amount of time in rehab due to a hamstring injury. However, fans were confident in his abilities to bounce back. His phenomenal performance in the Rose Bowl 2022 entitled him as a generational talent.
Njigba racked up 347 receiving yards in the 48-45 Rose Bowl victory over Utah and scripted history by holding the all-time best record. The Dallas native might be an underdog in terms of physical attributes, but he shut the critics on his Pro day drill, recording 4.48s in the 40-yard dash.
“I just think my playmaking ability is second to none in this draft,’’ Smith-Njigba said at the NFL scouting combine, per The New York Post. “I see myself as a top-five player in this draft, just being able to make plays and be given the opportunities. You throw me the ball seven to nine times, I can win you the game,’’ he added with utmost confidence. It will be interesting to see whether he lives up to the expectations.
